Bethlehem Voters' Guide: 2013 General Election

Tuesday is Election Day. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters will be asked to produce an ID, but they are not required to provide one to cast a ballot.

In Bethlehem, voters will be selecting a new mayor and four members of City Council, though the issue appeared to have been mostly settled after the May primary.

City Councilman Bob Donchez won the Democratic mayoral primary, defeating fellow Councilman J. William Reynolds. While no Republicans ran, an independent candidate, Todd Dietrich, launched a write-in challenge less than two weeks ago.

In the City Council race, Chris Morales—campaigning as “The Hot Dog Guy”—is the sole Republican in a race with four Democrats for four open seats.

The Democrats running are incumbents Eric Evans and Karen Dolan; Bryan Callahan, the current mayor’s brother; and newcomer Adam Waldron, a house painter from West Bethlehem.

In Northampton County, voters will pick a new county executive, having a choice of exiting Democratic Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan and Republican Bangor Mayor John Brown.

Meanwhile, 10 candidates—five Democrats, five Republicans—are seeking five open spots on Northampton County Council.
The Democrats are: 

·  Christen Borso, a Bethlehem business owner and member of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.

·  Ronald Heckman, a former councilman and director of human services from Bethlehem.

·  Deborah Hunter, a Nazareth Area School Board member.

·  Tom O'Donnell, a former Lower Nazareth supervisor.

·  Gerald Seyfried, a former county executive and councilman from Lower Nazareth.

The Republicans are:

·  Mat Benol, a former Tea Party Chairman from Palmer Township.

·  Peg Ferraro of Bushkill Township, the only incumbent in the race.

·  Glenn Geisinger, a businessman from Plainfield Township.

·  Hayden Phillips, first time candidate and Hewitt Packard project manager from Lower Nazareth.

·  Seth Vaughn, a Bethlehem phyisican's assistant who ran for county council in 2012.

In West Bethlehem and Fountain Hill, voters will join the rest of Lehigh County in selecting their new executive. There, Republican Scott Ott is opposed by Democrat Tom Muller.

Click on this link to find your polling place.